A SON yesterday won a startling #1.4m compensation for appalling mistreatment at the hands of his mother when he was a baby.

The teenage parent knelt on 10-week-old Allan Waters until he turned purple and kicked him around the bedroom floor to stop him crying.

Allan, now 22 and living in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, was left severely brain damaged after the assault by his natural mother.

Now in need of 24-hour care, Allan's injuries have affected all aspects of his life.

The money will make sure that he is well cared for in the future, say his adoptive parents Joan and Peter Waters.

Allan has grown up suffering from poor memory, mood swings and difficulty in communicating with anyone outside his adoptive family.

The award would not be possible under new law, but old legislation applies to Allan Waters because he was injured so long ago.

His adoptive parents have told of their relief that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has finally approved the #1.4m sum.

Adoptive mother Joan Waters said that the money was essential.

"I am not getting any younger and can now take on a full-time carer and rest a little more," said the 59-year-old grandmother, who also cares for two other disabled men.

"This means that if anything happens to me or my husband Peter, we know Allan will be okay."

The money was approved yesterday after an earlier court case, and a longer assessment process which Mrs Waters said "dragged on for about 14 years".

She added, "It has been a long haul - a lot of stress, but we are out the other side now.

"I did not know the money was even available until Allan was about eight. Since then there have been a lot of care reports and paperwork, but it has been worth it."

Solicitor Steve Ireland, who represented Allan, said, "I am delighted he has received proper payout for the catastrophic injuries he suffered.

"This very large award has been calculated to make sure he has all the support, therapy and equipment he needs to make the most of life.

"Each day of his life he and his family have to deal with the results of that attack."

His natural mother, who has not been named, became pregnant at the age of 16 while she lived in a care home and then moved out to a flat, where the assault took place. She received six months' probation for the attack.

Mrs Waters said it was a desperately misguided attempt to stop Allan from crying, which also left him with numerous broken bones.

"It is a wonder he got through it at all," said Mrs Waters, who started caring for Allan a month after the incident. "We were told in the early days he would never walk, but he runs and swims with confidence."

The money has been passed on to receivers, who will provide cash when needed.

"I have enough responsibilities so I did not want the money in my hands" said Mrs Waters.

One of Allan's first purchases will be a touch screen computer.

"His old one is about 10 years old, and he loves computers,'' she said. "He has no idea of the legal proceedings we have been through - he has a very limited understanding and money means nothing to him. But if the injuries had not happened, he would be a bright young man.

"We moved to Wales to give him more space to run around in, he is a real handful with a lust for life."